Fri 11/21 – Sun 12/7
While Near West Theatre awaits the completion of their $7.3 million performing arts space in the Gordon Square Arts District, their holiday show line-up will go on!
A special holiday performance of Jesus Christ Superstar will run at West Side United Church of Christ, 3800 Bridge Ave, for three weekends during Fri 11/21 – Sun 12/7. The performance will be held right in the church sanctuary. For this unique performance, the theatre has created playing space in the front of the church, transforming it into the stage.
The professional design staff has created the set using the entirety of the space available by building platforms, scaffolding, adding lights, sound amplification and other high theatrical design elements to enhance the audience’s viewing pleasure.
“Bob Navis, our Director, has together with that whole professional design staff designed a really gripping, pretty hard-hitting and very human feel to this,” says Chief Operating Officer Hans Holznagel.
Like all of the shows at Near West Theatre, filling the roles was done through an open casting call. Actors auditioned in September and rehearsals have been in full swing since then.
“One of the unusual things about Near West Theatre is that we bring together ordinary people from all walks of life. Many of them have never met each other and may be from very different kinds of neighborhoods and different backgrounds, economic backgrounds, schools and all this stuff.
“So we spend a lot of time right in the beginning helping them get to know one another and build trust, build an ensemble. I think it really shows in a production like this where folks are called upon to engage some pretty passionate material together. I mean these are not just folks standing up there singing…they are really playing the roles, even if they’ve had to invent a character from within themselves that doesn’t have a name to be a part of these mobs, and these celebratory possessions and all this stuff that it’s in Jesus Christ Superstar… they’ve done it and they have partners to work with who they’ve grown to know and trust. That’s really working in this show, it’s looking very very great. It’s an intense show but very very effective,” continues Holznagel.
The last time Near West Theatre did a production of Jesus Christ Superstar was 2003 during a summer youth theatre production, so needless to say this rock opera performance is going to be very different. The volunteer cast features about 50 children, teens, adults and professional experts in music and design, ranging in ages 7 to mid-50’s.
Get your hot ticket by going to nearwesttheatre.org or by calling the box office Monday – Friday, 11AM – 4PM. Reserved Star Seats, $20; regular tickets, $10 for adults, $8 ages 12 and under. Also note the December 4th performance will be interpreted in American Sign Language. For any tickets not sold in advance, the box office will be selling one hour before the performance begins at the door. However, we recommend ordering your tickets in advance!
[This play contains some intense scenes that may be disturbing to small children. So please keep that in mind when purchasing your tickets. It’s up to the parent’s discretion as to whether or not they should or should not see this performance.]
Sidenote: The new theatre building is expected to be finished in February of 2015. The theatre will begin welcoming the public in for a series of shows then.
3800 Bridge Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
Cleveland, OH 44113